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barrington timeline pre-1900

1834 - The first white men known to have settled in Barrington township were Jesse F. Miller and William Van Orsdal, who developed farms in an area which is now part of Barrington Hills.

December 14, 1840 - The township of Barrington is organized at William Otis' log house (SE corner of Routes 62 & 59). A school district is formed and the name of Barrington, for the town of Great Barrington, MA, is chosen.

1841 - The first frame house, built by S.W. Kingsley.

1845 - The first Barrington township post office opened.

1846 - The first buildings in the village, known as Barrington Station: log homes, the school house, grain shanties, etc., are built. The school house is a log building which stood where the Catlow Theatre is now. It was moved to Park Avenue and remodeled into Ed Sabin's Saloon. The building burned in the fire of 1892.

1850 - The first official township meeting was held in the school area known as "Town of Barrington."

1852 - The Illinois and Wisconsin Railroad was extended to Deer Grove, and a train station was built.